Mumbai: Amidst all controversies revolving around the remake of Amitabh Bachchan starrer Zanjeer, producer Amit Mehra says he has taken the blessings from the film’s writers – Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar.

The remake of Bachchan starrer superhit film, Zanjeer has been in the news regarding copyright and royalty issue.

Both the writers of the 1973 original film had expressed displeasure over the remake. But Amit says he has their permission now to re-make the film.

“We have bought the rights of Zanjeer from my father’s production company, Prakash Mehra. I have met both (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar) of them to take their blessings. They are special people,” Amit told PTI.

His father Prakash Mehra had produced and directed the original Zanjeer. The action thriller’s screenplay and dialogues were co-written by Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan.

“This is my first film and I wanted to make Zanjeer as it was a superhit film… also I am emotionally connected with it,” he said.

The writers has reportedly asked for a substantial sum of money if Amit wanted to re-translate the Zanjeer script on celluloid.

When asked about the same, Amit said, “I don’t know all this. I am meeting them again, hopefully everything would be fine. But the remake of Zanjeer will be made. I did not ask them for anything. Salim uncle gave me his blessings,” Amit said.

Earlier both the writers had complained that the producers did not consult them before going ahead with the remake plans of Zanjeer.

On the other hand, when asked about the objections that are being raised for the remake of the film, Salim said, “I don’t want to talk about it. It is too premature to say anything. And I don’t understand why is such a big issue is being made.”

The original film had established Amitabh Bachchan as the angry young man of the Hindi cinema.

Telugu actor Ram Charan, son of Chiranjeevi, has been finalised to step into Big B’s role, while Priyanka Chopra is being considered to reprise the role of Jaya Bachchan.

“We have signed Ram Charan, Prakash Raj and Mahie Gill for the film. Talks with Priyanka are going on. Nothing has been confirmed yet on the part of leading lady for the film,” Amit said.

Bachchan may do a cameo in the remake. “Without Amit uncle, ‘Zanjeer’, the original film would have never been made. The talks are on,” Amit said.

The remake version of the film, to be directed by Apoorva Lakhia, would go on floors this month. (PTI)

London:Legendary Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor’s dog is at the centre of a custody battle between her son and former manager.

The Maltese breed, named Daisy, was long a companion of the late Cleopatra star, who died last year of congestive heart failure. Her son Christopher Wilding took her after her passing but Elizabeth’s former manager Jason Winters is keen to have the pooch himself, reported Contactmusic.

“It was chaos after Liz died last March, and Chris took Daisy home to live with him. But Jason coveted that dog and felt it would connect him to Liz. He was devastated when he didn’t get her – but he hasn’t given up hope,” a source said.

“Jason pleads with Chris by phone to let him have Daisy. He points out he’d give the dog a wonderful place to live at his opulent homes in Palm Springs and Hawaii,” the source added.

Taylor had a love-affair with animals, once claiming she thought of pets as like humans.

Taylor’s ring: Lindsay Lohan feels a “connection” to Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who she will play in a TV movie, because the late actress gave her a ring before she died. The 25-year-old, who will portray the iconic actress in the TV movie Liz and Dick, was given the piece of costume jewellery with a motivational letter from the screen legend before she died and is delighted to have it. (Agencies)

New Delhi: Braving the competition from the Indian Premier League, Sajid Khan’s Housefull 2 has rocked the box office, grossing collections of Rs 72 crore worldwide on its opening weekend, worldwide distributors of the film, Eros International Said.

According to Eros, Housefull 2, which released worldwide on April 6, has grossed Rs 57 crore in India (Net collection: Rs 40 crore) and Rs 15 crore overseas. The first of Eros big ticket Housefull 2 was released on 3000 plus screens worldwide.

The collections earned by the film are remarkable considering that the film hit the screens amid the IPL season, during which most Bollywood filmmakers have been avoiding releasing their films for fear of the cricket frenzy affecting the collections of their films.

Announcing the collections of the film, which also features South Indian filmstar Asin, upcoming Bollywood actors Zarine Khan and Shahzahn Padamsee and Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez, Nandu Ahuja, Sr VP, India Theatrical, Eros International Media Ltd said,”Despite releasing during the IPL cricket frenzy, Housefull 2 has opened well in theaters across India. With its strong weekend performance, we believe Housefull 2 has also lived up to its name like its predecessor.” (UNI)